Unravelling knotty issues

Virtual site visits

COVID-19 has led to the emergence of VR technologies that help couples with planning wedding banquets.

Launched in 2019, Peter Leung's Bespoke Production has been turning event spaces, restaurants and hotel rooms into immersive 360-degree VR tours that could be viewed on smart devices via an URL. His clients include Four Seasons Hong Kong, Sino Hotels, Shangri-La Group, Mandarin Oriental group and Langham Hospitality Group.

Unlike older versions of virtual tours, Leung's product comes with high-definition 3D models. The experience of a virtual "walk-through" of the venues is as close to its real life counterpart as it could get.

The obvious benefit of Bespoke Production products is that clients can conduct multiple site-visits from the comfort of their COVID-19-free homes. Leung says it's a service especially attractive to young couples who "want all the information before reaching out to the venue."

Coming wedding boom?

Back at The Park Lane Hong Kong, weddings scheduled for 2021 are 20 to 25 percent smaller in size compared to those held pre-pandemic. Until the vaccine is rolled out, Bollen says he must remain flexible.

"With the exception of auspicious dates, our lead time is getting shorter as couples are less eager to put down deposits and make contractual agreements. In general, we all had the feeling we were working much harder than before," Bollen says. "But we think 2021 might be a good year."

Froelich, too, remains hopeful. She expects to see double the number of weddings, with even more impressive parties, bigger screens for virtual attendance and more outdoor receptions.

"I hope one day there will be a vaccine tracker so we can do a better seating arrangement," she says. "Everything always works out in the end. All the couples I've dealt with are very understanding and flexible."

Two months have gone by since the November wedding of the Cureau-Ip couple. Looking back, they seem glad about going ahead with their triple cocktail reception.

"I do have one regret though: a proper walk down the aisle," says Ip. "Although that's not something we planned for Hong Kong, now we don't know whether we'll be doing anything in France any more."

"Also I'd have liked it if my close friends from the United States had come," she adds. "But this is the situation we're in."